WOODLAND creepy crawlies like woodlice and worms could hold the key to maintaining delicate forest ecosystems, a Welsh academic has found.

Research from Cardiff University has suggested that common woodland creatures, such as woodlice, worms and millipedes, helped ensure survival of less-dominant species of woodland fungi, vital for woodland diversity.

Fungal networks in Wales often stretch over several hectares of woodland, competing with each other for space and resources.

Now, findings have shown that invertebrates living on the woodland floor have the potential to govern the outcome of these battles – by feeding on more dominant species and sparing the weaker.

The work was carried out by PhD student Tom Crowther, from Cardiff University School of Biosciences, who warned that the findings were important as populations of both woodland creatures and diversity of fungi were depleting with global warming and land use change.

Mr Crowther is due to begin a four-year post-doctoral research placement at Yale University next year, working with Professor Mark Bradford, one of the world’s leaders in soil ecology.

He said: “By not allowing the most dominant fungus to destroy all opponents, fungal diversity is maintained within the woodland. This is an important process as fungi are responsible for maintaining soil quality and fertility, allowing native trees and plants to grow, and the woodland itself to function.”